Executive Director
Jon Haveman is widely considered to be one of California’s leading experts on the economics of seaports, goods movement, and international trade policy. He is also an expert in regional economies and local economic development. He is currently a Principal with Marin Economic Consulting, a boutique consultancy providing reports to government agencies, economic development organizations, and other organizations, in addition to providing expert witness services in legal proceedings. Prior to joining Marin Economic Consulting, Dr. Haveman was the Chief Economist at the Bay Area Council Economic Institute, a founding Principal at Beacon Economics, and the Director of the Economy Program at the Public Policy Institute of California. He has been a Senior Economist with the President's Council of Economic Advisers and an Economist with the Federal Trade Commission, and he has held a faculty position in the Business School at Purdue University. Dr. Haveman holds a Ph.D. and Master of Science in Economics from the University of Michigan and a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the University of Wisconsin.
A prolific author, Dr. Haveman has published extensively on transportation and security issues at California's seaports, business outsourcing, and trade in technology products. He also has a lengthy record of publishing articles in the areas of labor and international economics and a work history related to private asset accumulation. A well-known media commentator, Dr. Haveman has been quoted in The Economist, the Los Angeles Times, the San Francisco Chronicle, the Sacramento Bee, and the San Jose Mercury News, among many other publications. His radio and television appearances include regular interviews on CBS Channel 5 in San Francisco, and interviews on KCBS-AM, KGO-AM, and KQED public radio. Dr. Haveman speaks regularly at events across California and has testified at numerous federal and state government hearings on issues related to seaport activity and security, technology trade, and local economic development.
Dr. Haveman is a prominent speaker. He has given more than 500 talks to groups ranging from high school classes to Congressional hearings. His talks have covered a wide range of subject matter, including general economic conditions in the United States, poverty and income inequality, seaport security, and the implications of autonomous vehicles. It is through his experience in giving talks that Dr. Haveman has recognized the benefits of economic education in informing national policy discussions and has developed his vision for NEED.
